Closure actuating and locking mechanism



Sept. 8, 1942. -c. E. ARTHUR 2,295,324

CLOSURE ACTUATING AND LOCKING MECHANISM Filed March 18, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet L INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 8, 1942 caosunn ACTUATING AND LoemNG MsosM Charles E. Arthur, Nana, Calif. Application March 18, 1939, Serial No. 262,768.

12 Claims. (01. 292-48) The invention relates to mechanisms for closing and locking doors and principally to such mechanisms as are used on closures for openings exposed to weather or to an artificially maintained pressure, such as is the case on various ship doors and closures and the like. 7

An object of the invention is to provide a door closing mechanism of the character described which will positively close and seal a 'door or other closure in an opening and at the same time enable a quick and ready operation of the mechanism to enable the opening of the door or closure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closing mechanism of the character above which utilizes a plurality of locking dogs or the like which are placed under great pressure in their locked position and which are actuated by a manually operative leverage mechanism providing a progressive increase of mechanical advantage of force transmission to the dogs'towards the end of their locking movement, so as to minimize the required force to be 'exertedby the operator of the mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door closing mechanism of the character described which may be constructed directly on a door or the like and which will be of relatively.

light weight and of a design enabling a compact arrangement of the mechanism on the door.

Still another object of the invention i to provide a door closing mechanism of the character above which, although as aforementioned, will apply a great closing and sealing force to the door and door frame, is so mounted and constructed on the door as to reduce to a minimum all strain adjacent the center of the door whereby substantially all distortion of the door is eliminated. Y e

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantagersom of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of'the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the specification. understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a door closing mechanism constructed in accordance with the It is to be present invention and shown operatively posi- V tioned upon a door and door frame therefor.

Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a part of the door closing mechanism and is taken substantially Figure 1. 1

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view-similar to Figure 2 and showing part'of the mechanism in elevation and illustrating the mechanism in a difierent position than illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the mechanism illustrated in Figures 2'and 3. a v

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the mechanism illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 and is taken substantially onthe plane of line 5-5 of Figure 51. v

Figure 6 ma cross-sectional view of a part of the mechanism taken substantially on the plane of line 6-6 of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a 'partof the mechanism taken substantially'on the plane 'of line '|--'l of Figure 1.

movable into an engaged position with the other member to hold the members in tightly closed, sealed and locked position, and manual operating means which is connected to th dogs through the medium of a variable leverage mech- V anism which is operative to progressively increase the mechanical advantag of force transmission between the manual means and the dog in-th'e course'of movement thereof to a locked position, whereby the applied operating force is minimized towards the endot, the locking movement.

Referring more specifically to the accompanying drawings, the closure actuating mechanism of the present invention as illustrated in con- 7 junction with a door 8, here shown of a more i or less standard'ship door type, which is enclosed by and adapted to forcibly bear against a 7 door frame 9; As will be best seen from Figures 2, 3 and 6, the door Bis provided around its periphery II with a channel I! in which is mounted a gasket 13 which is adapted'toforcibly bear against the exposed edge M of a flange it carried by the door frame 9. Preferably,-a. reinforcing flange l'lris mounted'a'round the periphery H to define th channel l2 and to reinforce.

the door structure and the opposed walls of the channel may be tapered outwardly of the channel so as to securely hold'the gasket I3 within the channel.

Meansfor holding the door securely pressed against the frame here include a plurality of r orricsf on the plane of line 2-4 of dogs or locking members l3, l3, 2|, 22, 23, 23, 23, 21, 2,8 and 23 which as here shown, are pivotally carried by the door adjacent the periphery thereof and which are adapted to move out- -wardly and against the door frame so as to draw the gasket into tightly pressed engagement with the leading edge l3 ofthe flange l3. Each of these dogs or locking membersare here shown of similar construction and an explanation of one will suffice for all. Each of the dogs is composed of a pair of spaced plates 3| and 32 which are rigidly secured together in spaced relation by means of a rib 33 and which are each flxed at one end thereof to a shaft 34. The shaft 33 is secured adjacent to the front panel of the door 3 and the flange II by means of a bearing block 33 which is adjustably supported on the flange H by means of screws 31 and 33 threaded through bosses 33 and 3| formed on the flange. The lower ends 42 of the screws are seated in recesses 33 formed in the bearing block, whereby the spacing of the latter from the front panel of the door may be accurately controlled. The plates 3l-and 32 are here shown of a form similar to bell cranks and extend transversely from the plane of the door beyond the plane of the frame I and then at substantially right angles to overly the frame and to bear forcibly against the same in the locked position of the dogs. The engagement of the dogs and frame is here effected by means of a pair of spaced rollers 43 and 33 which are carried at the outer ends 41 and 33 of the members 3| and 32 by means of a pin 33 passing through such ends and the rollers. Preferably, the frame is reinforced at its point of engagement with the rollers and as here shown, a bar 3| is provided on the frame in abutting relation to the flange ,l3 and at the inner side of the frame to support the rollers 33 and 33.

In accordance with the present invention, the locking dogs are arranged to be manually displaced from an open inoperative position, as illustrated 'in Figure 3, wherein the rollers and 33 are withdrawn to within the periphery of the door, to an outwardly rotated position such as shown in Figure 2, wherein the rollers are forcibly drawn againstthe frame to seal the door been particularly designed for use with closures requiring a great closing force to hold the same in sealed position in the door frame. It is customary in the case of ship doors to sink the' in closed position; The present mechanism has mechanism of this character which may be quickly and easily operated by manual operation so as to enable a fast and immediate opening of the door in case of emergency. To accomplish this result, I provide an actuating mechanism for the dogs which will provide for a relatively fast movement of the dogs from their open position, as-shown in Figure 3, to adjacent their closed position, as shown in Figure 2, and thereafter a relatively slow movement of the dogs to a fully lockedposition by progressively increasing the mechanical advantage of force transmission as the dogs are moved from open to closed position, whereby the final locking movement of the dogs i may be effected with a minimum applied oper- 7 der great force is effected with a minimum appliedforce to the manual operating means.

In carrying out the above method of application, I embody in part of the actuating mechanism a toggle mechanism, and an associated link structure which is operative to change the mechanical advantage of force transmission during the course of movement of the dogs 2|, 22, 23, 21, 23 and 23. As here shown there is mounted on the door, toggle links 32, 33, 33, 33, 31 and 53 which are in each instance secured at their outer ends 33 to a clevis 3| in turn pivotally secured to alink 32 which is journaled on the pin 43 between the rollers 33 and 33. As will be seen from Figure 1, the arrangement of the dogs on the door is such as to position dogs 2| and 29,-d0gs 22 and 23, and dogs 23 and that opposite sides of the door so that dogs 2| and 23 are substantially horizontally aligned, as are also dogs 22 and 23, and dogs 23 and 21. The

inner end 33 of 1ink 32 is pivoted to the inner end 33 of link 33 adjacent the vertical center of the door, as is also the case with the inner end 33 of link 33 and the inner-end 31 of'link 51, and the inner end 33 of link 33, and the inner end 33 of link 33. The construction of such piv-' otal connection is illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 in connection with links 32 and 33, which is typical of the pivotal connection of the other pairs of links above mentioned. As here shown, the inner end 33 of link 33 is secured to a clevis II, which is in turn engaged in a larger clevis 12 attached to the inner end 33 of link 32. The clevises II and 12 are pivotally secured together by means of a pin 13 which passes outwardly through these members in a direction normal to the plane of the door and at the inner end thereof is provided with a. roller I4, which is carried in a channel I3 extending along the vertical center portion of the'door. In this manner the inner pivoted ends of the links are restricted in their movement to a guided verticallinks, as will be clear, are in such aligned position i in locked position of the dogs, and are so illustrated in Figure l. To move the dogs to open position the links are here displaced away from an aligned position, as indicated indotted lines in Figure i, so as to draw the outer ends of the links inwardly towards the center of the door. In the ,case of links 32 and 33, and 33 and 31, the cento open the dogs,

tral pivot is drawn downwardly whereas in the case of links 33 and 33 the center pivot is raised in opening the dogs. This is here eii'ected by mounting on the door intermediate the links 33-51 and links 33-33 at a central position widthwise of the door, a rotary crank 11 which is connected by a link I3 to the center pivot of links 53 and 51 and which is connected at an opposite side of its pivotalaxis, by. link I to the central pivot of links 54- and Q The center pivot of links 53 and 51 is in turn connected 'to the center pivotof a connecting bar 0i.

The construction of the rotary crank I1 and the associated mechanism is best seen in Figures 1 and 'I. As here shown, the crankis in the form of a pair. of spaced plates 02 secured at through the door tothe outer side thereof. Also secured to the pin adjacent the plates 02 and fixed thereton, as here shown, by means of a nut 04, is a manually engageable lever 00. Preferably, the connection of the lever to the pinas well as the plates to the pin, is eifected in a none circular interfit, so as to hold these members against relative rotation. The pin is here shown journaled in bearing members 01 and 08 mounted at opposite sides of the door in a bushing 09 secured to the doors A packing. 0| is preferably mounted between the adjacent inner ends of the bearings. A lever flispreferably provided at the outer side of the door and as here shown is secured to the outer end 03 of the pin and held in place by means of a nut 94 threaded on the pin.

The door here illustrated is as aforementioned, a more or less standard form of ship door and is are located inthe present instance the dogs I0, I0, 24 and 26. These dogshare connected with links 06, 91, 08 and 00 which are in each instance secured to the pin 49 of the .dogs in the manner above described and which are operatively con- 5 nected at their opposite ends to links IOI, I02, I01 and I04. The opposite ends of the last mentioned links are pivoted to reinforcing members I00, I01, I08 and I00 set on the inside panel of the door. In the closed position of dogs I0, I0, 24 and 40, 26 the aforementioned links attached to these dogs are in substantially alignedv position and these dogs are moved to an open position by swinging such links out of their aligned position.

The center pivotal connection of thesets of links 90--'IOI, 91-l02, 98-403, and 09-I04, in each instance forms the knee of a toggle joint and the knees of these joints are connected bye seies of links III, H2, H3 and Ill, Links III and II! are pivoted together at theirinner ends and 50 secured in the center guide channel I0 and connected to the knee of links 52 and 50 by means of a-bar IIIi. Similarly, the inner ends ;of links I I3 and H4 are pivoted together and secured in the channel I6 and connected to the knee of links 54 and 55 by means of a bar I".

In operation of the device, the lever, 08 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction; as viewed in Figure 1, to open the dogs and in a clockwise direction to close the dogs, the entire movement 6 of the handle being approximately 135 of arc. Upon movement of the handle 06 in a clockwise direction from the locked position, as illustrated in Figure 1, the knees of the several toggle links are drawn towards the axis of the lever, as 11- lustrated in dotted lines in Figure 1, whereby the dogs are drawn away-from the door frame. Upon movement of the handle from open to closed position, the knees of the ,several'to'ggle joints are moved towards an aligned position 7 of the toggle links, and as will be understood, as the toggle links approach an aligned position,

the mechanical advantage of force transmission increases so that at the end. of the stroke such tude (theoretically infinity). It will be runnerseen with, reference to Figures 2 and 3 that the movement at right angles thereto, represented by the movement between the door and frame, the inner side of the door on a pin extending 10 whereby a substantial gain in mechanical advantagejis obtained. other words after initial engagement of the roller 40 with the bearing bar 5| in the locking movement of the dog, the roller of. movement. Also, the adjustable construction,

of the bearing blocks 30 as above described, en-

ables an adjustmentof the rollers 00 relative to the door frame, so as to take up forwear and compression of the gasket. Further, by reason of the construction of the mechanism and particularly the securing of the dogs exclusively adjacent I V the periphery of the door, and the movement of formed with rounded or curved corners at which 3 the toggle links into a substantially aligned position into the closed locked position of the dogs,

the entire stress set up by the closing force is carried around the periphery of the door .and

substantially no'stress whatever created over the Y central portion of the door, whereby distortion of the door is avoided.

It will now be understood that the mechanism.

1. In combination with a door and door frame therefor, a pair of members pivoted to said door adjacent opposite edges thereof, each of said members being pivoted along an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the door and movable in an are normal to said plane to engagesaid door frame, links pivoted to said members along axes normalto said plane and pivoted together at-a central portion of the door to form atoggle knee thereat, a track carried by said door at a central portion thereof and extending substantially parallel to the axis of saidmembers, and manual operating means slidably carried in said track and engaging said knee for displacingthe latter into a substantially aligned position of'said links. a

2. In combination with a door and door frame therefor, a pair of memberspivoted to said door adjacent opposite edges thereof, each of said members being pivoted along an axis substantially parallel to the plane of the door and movable in an arc normal to said-plane to engage said door frame, links pivoted to said members along axes normal to said plane and pivoted together at a central portion of the door ,to form a toggle knee thereat, a track carried by said, door at a central portion thereof and extending substantially parallel to the axis of said members, a, ro-

mechanical advantage reaches a large magnitary manual operating means carried by said named link end being slidably carried in said track for displacing said knee into a substantially aligned position of said first mentioned links.

3; "In combination with a door and'an abutting door frame, a door closing and locking member pivotally mounted on said door adjacent one edge thereof and having a pivotal axis substantially parallel to the plane of the door and movable in an arc normal to said plane to engage said door frame to hold said door in closed position thereagainst, manually operated means car. ried byfsaid door and connected to said member for displacing the latter to and from said frame, and means for adjusting the spacing between the pivotal axis of said member and said door.

4. In combination with a closure and abutting closure frame, a plurality of members pivoted to said closure adJacent opposite edges thereof along parallel axes substantially parallel to the plane of the closure and rotatable in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of the closure from a retracted position spaced from the frame to an extended position engaged with the frame for holding the closure thereagainst, a member mounted substantially centrally. of the closure and movable substantially parallel to the plane of the closure and along a line parallel to said Y pivotal axes at right angles to the plane of movement of said first members toggle links pivoted at one end to said second member and at their opposite ends to said first members and'movable with said second member into and from an ali ned Position of said links to cause an extension and retraction of said flrst members, an operating lever pivoted to the closure along an axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the closure and having a length which isentirely confined within the area of the closure, and means connecting said lever and said second member providing a full movement of said second member and a full movement of said first members between the extended and contracted positions thereof aforesaid upon a rotation of said lever less than a complete revolution thereof.

5. In a door adapted for mounting in a frame opening for movement to and from a closed position, a reinforcing flange extending around the door adjacent the periphery thereof and within said opening and extending from the door at door, and a link pivoted at one end to said means and at an opposite end to said knee,said lastshaft secured to one end of said strips, bearing means carried by said flange supporting said 1 shaft on an axis parallel to the plane of the door for movement of each member in an arc in a plane normal to the plane of the door for movement to and from an engaged position with'said frame, a pin connecting the opposite ends of said strips, a pair of rollers carried by said pin adjacent said strips,- and a connection member mounted on said pin intermediate saidfrollers.

Y 7. In a door adapted for mounting in a frame opening for movementto and from a closed position, a reinforcing flange extending around the door adjacent the periphery thereof and within said opening and extending from thedoor at substantially right angles to the plane of the door, a plurality of locking members pivotally supported on thedoor at saidflange and each comprising a Pair of spaced longitudinally curved strips; a shaft secured to one ,end of each of said strips, bearing means carried by said flange and supporting said shaft on an axis parallel to the plane of the door for movement of each member inan arc in a plane normal to the plane of the door between a retracted position of the member spaced from the frame and an extended position of the member engaged with the frame for holding the door in closed position, toggle means opcrating between opposed members at opposite substantially right angles to the plane of the" door, a plurality of locking members pivotally supported on the door at said flange and each comprising a pair of spaced. longitudinally curved -strips, a reinforcing rib joining said strips in spaced parallel relation, a shaft secured to one end of each of said strips, bearing means carried by said flange and supporting said shaft on an axis parallel to the plane of the door for movement of each member in an arc in a plane normal to the plane of the door between a retracted position of the member spaced from the frame and an extended position of the member engaged with the frame for holding the door in closed position.

8. In a door adapted for mounting in a frame opening for movement to and from a closed position, a reinforcing flange extending around the door adjacent the periphery thereof and within said opening and extending from the door at substantially right angles to the plane of the door, a plurality of locking members pivotally supported on the door at said flange and each comprising a pair of spaced longitudinally curved strips,a

sides of the door for displacing said members between said positions, and set-screw means for adjusting the position of said bearing means to regulate the pressure of said members against said frame.

8. A closing and locking mechanism for a door and frame therefor comprising, a plurality of members pivoted at one end thereof to said door at opposite sides of said door along parallel axes parallel to the plane of the .door and movable in arcs perpendicular to the plane of said door so as to swing the opposite outer ends of said members to and from said frame for holding said door in closed position against said frame, rollers carried by said outer ends of said members for engagement with said frame, the spacing between said rollers and the pivotal axes of said members and the location of said axes relative to said frame being such as to cause said rollers to roll over and to bear forcibly against said frame sides in the closed position of the door to draw said at opposite sides of said door along parallel axes parallel to the plane of the door and movable in arcs in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of said door so as to swing the opposite outer ends of saidmembers to and from said frame for holding said door in closed position against said frame, rollers carried by said outer ends of said members for engagement with said frame, the spacing between said rollers and the pivotal axes of said members and the location of said 'axes relative to said frame being such as to cause said rollers to roll over and to bear forcib y a ainst said frame sides in the closed position of the door to draw said door and frame together, toggle links extending across said door and pivoted at their outer ends to said members adjacent the outer ends thereof whereby the thrust of said links is applied substantially at the axes of said rollers, the inner ends of said toggle links being pivoted together adjacent the center of the door, and manually operative" means connected to the inner pivoted ends of said toggle links for moving said links into and from an aligned position thereby causing said members to swing about their axes as aforesaid,

10. A closing and locking mechanism for a door and frame therefor comprising, a plurality of members pivoted at one end thereof to said door at opposite sides of said door along parallel axes'parallel to the plane of the door and movable in arcs in a common plane perpendicular to the .plane of said door so as to swing the opposite cuter ends of said members to and from said frame for holding said door in closed position against said frame, rollers carried by said outer ends of said members for engagement with said frame, the spacing between said rollers and the pivotal axes of said members and the location of said axes relative to said frame being such as to cause said rollers to roll over and to bear forcibly against said frame sides in the closed position of the door to draw said door and frame together, toggle links extending across said door and pivoted at their outer ends to said members adjacent the outer ends thereof whereby the thrust of said links is applied substantially at pivotal axes of said members and the location of said axes relative to said frame being such as to cause said rollers to engage and to roll over and to bear forcibly against said frame in the closed position of the door adjacent the top of the swinging arc of said members to thereby draw said door and frame together with a degree of movement therebetween less than the component of movement of said members parallel to the plane of said door, and manually operated means connected to said members adjacent said outer ends thereof for swinging said'members as aforesaid and applying an operating force to said members in the locking positions thereof substantially parallel to the plane of said door.

12. A closing and locking mechanism for a door and frame therefor comprising, a plurality of members pivoted at. one end thereof to said door at opposite sides of :said door along parallel axes parallel to the plane of the door and movable in arcs in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of said door so as to swing the opposite outer ends of said members to and from said the axes of said rollers, the inner ends of said toggle links being pivoted together adjacent the center of the door, and means for displacing the inner pivoted ends of said links into and from an aligned position to cause a swinging of said members as aforesaid and including a manually operated lever mounted on said door and movement transmission means connecting said lever with said link ends providing a relatively small mechanical advantage whereby the operative displacement of said links may be effected by a relatively short movement of said lever. v

11. A closing and locking mechanism for a door and frame therefor comprising, a plurality of members pivotedat one end thereof to said door at opposite sides of said door along parallel axes parallel to the plane of the door and movable in arcs in a common plane perpendicular to the plane of said door so as to swing the opposite outer ends of said members to and from said frame for holding said door in closed position against said frame, rollers carried by said outer ends of said members for engagement with said frame, the spacing between said rollers and the frame for holding said door in closed position against said frame, rollers carried by said outer ends of said members for engagement with said frame, the spacing between said rollers and the pivotal axes of said members and the location of said axes relative to said frame being such as to cause said rollers to engage and to roll over and to bear forcibly against said frame in the closed.

position of the door adjacent the top of the swin ing are of said members to thereby draw said door and frame togetherwith a degree of movement therebetween less than the component of movement of said members parallel to the plane of said door, toggle links mounted across said door between said members adjacent the outer ends of said members to permit movement of said links in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of said door to swing said members in said arcs perpendicular to said door plane and to apply an operative force to said member ends substantially parallel to said door plane, and manually operative means pivotally connected to said links adjacent the center of said door for moving said links into and from an aligned position across saiddoor to thereby cause the swinging of said members as aforesaid.

CHARLES E. ARTHUR. 

